ECC helps students ‘Dress for Success’

ELGIN – Elgin Community College on Wednesday helped students find the right attire for their job interviews.

The college held its Dress For Success fashion show in the Jobe Lounge next to the college’s cafeteria. Nine students modeled various types of professional outfits to wear to job interviews.

The show usually is part of the school’s Job and Internship Fair, but organizers decided to hold it in advance of this year’s April 25 fair to help participants dress correctly for the fair itself, said Kathy Meisinger, the college’s internship coordinator.

Meisinger said a student came to the college’s 2013 job fair dressed in a T-shirt, tennis shoes and jeans. The college gave him business clothes to change into in a nearby bathroom, and he was able to land a job at the fair.

Clothes might or might not have made the difference for the student, but it certainly didn’t hurt him, Meisinger said.

“By the time you get to the interview, you are competing with four or five other applicants with the same skill set,” she said. “It’s very important not to give the employer the opportunity to judge you based on your clothing.”

Meisinger students should do research and try to dress “a hair” better than what the interviewer might wear and be careful not to overdress. She gave the example that someone applying for a welding position should go to an interview in khaki pants, a crisp collared shirt and tie, but not a full suit.

Sophomore Andrew Appleberg, 20, was one of the students who heard Meisinger’s advice during the show. He said he plans to go into cooking and likely would wear a suit to his interview.

Freshman Jacque Miller, 18, said she would likely wear the outfit she modeled on Wednesday. Her look included a light gray pleated skirt, a yellow blouse with some ruffles, a short-sleeved navy blazer and lightly colored metallic heels.

Miller said Meisinger recruited her to be in the show. She was appreciative of the St. Charles Savers store for providing the clothing for the fashion show and letting the models keep their outfits afterward.